Return Vioxx to market, experts tell Health Canada

[HuckleB]

Return Vioxx to market, experts tell Health Canada

http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/07/07/Vioxx-panel050707.html

"The anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx should be allowed back onto the market in Canada although it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, an expert panel recommended on Thursday.

Panellists voted 12-1 that the benefits of the Vioxx for pain relief outweigh its increased risks of cardiovascular disease.

Last year, Merck & Co. voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market after clinical trials showed the drug increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Vioxx is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug known as a COX-2 inhibitor that relieves pain from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The COX-2 drugs were promoted as having fewer ulcer problems than traditional arthritis drugs. The medications became some of the commonly prescribed in Canada.

..."

[daleo]

1. They appear to be mostly university researchers or professors.

"Panellists were experts in rheumatology, cardiology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, family medicine, clinical trial methodology, and epidemiology. Two had rheumatoid arthritis."

These are the members of the panel. At first glance it seems like a reputable group:

Andreas Laupacis MD,FRCPC
Chair
President and CEO
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Toronto, ON
(General Internist)

Arthur Bookman, MD, FRCPC
University Health Network / The Toronto Hospital
Toronto, ON
(Rheumatology)

James Brophy, MD, PhD
Divisions of Cardiology and Clinical Epidemiology,
Royal Victoria Hospital,
Montreal, QC
(Cardiovascular Epidemiology)

John Cairns, MD
Dean, Department of Medicine
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
(Cardiology)

Sumit R. Majumdar, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB
(General Internal Medicine)

Pam Montie
Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance (CAPA)
Chilliwack, BC
(Patient Advocate)

Elham Rahme, PhD
Associate Member, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine,
McGill University
Montreal, QC
(Pharmacoepidemiology)

Robin S. Roberts, M.Tech.
Clinical Trials Methodology Group
Henderson Research Centre
Hamilton, ON
(Biostatistician/Epidemiology)

Walter Rosser, MD, CCFP, FCFP, MRCGP(UK)
Professor and Head, Department of Family Medicine
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
(General Practitioner)

Alaa Rostom, MD
Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus
Ottawa, ON
(Gastroenterologist)

Peter Tugwell, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FRCP (UK)
The Ottawa Hospital-General Campus
Ottawa, ON
(Rheumatology & Epidemiology)

Linda Wilhelm
Chair of NB Arthritis Society
Kings County, NB
(Patient Advocate)

Michel Zummer, MD
Head, Canadian Rheumatology Association
Montréal, QC
(Rheumatology)

[HuckleB]

2. Great information. Thanks!

It's a complex issue, with too many shades of gray, and one very big shade of black in the form of Merck's deceit.

[amazona]

3. I would like to see the drug returned to market

For some people Vioxx or Bextra remains the better choice. Life is risk.